Container



April 24, 1962 A. E. BOWEN, JR

CONTAINER Filed May 16, 1960 ATTORNEYS aired rates Patent 3,030,651 CONTAINER Albert E. Bowen, Jr., Old Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Alpha Molykote Corporation, Stamford, Conn. Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No. 29,242 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-52l.5)

This invention relates to a container, and relates in particular to a container having applicator means associated therewith.

In dispensing certain solid, liquid, gelled, and any combination thereof, substances from a container, it is often desirable to prevent contamination of such materials in their container by the applicator used in applying the materials to the work at hand. Similarly, it is desirable not to contaminate the work. to which the substance is being applied with any foreign matter. One convenient method of achieving this is by applying the substance to the work with an applicator used only with said substance. In such a case, it is critical that the applicator be maintained in an uncontaminated condition during and between use.

For example, in the application of specialty lubricants to parts to be lubricated, it is desirable to maintain the lubricant free of any grit, metal iilings, or other foreign matter which would interfere with the properties of the lubricant. Similarly, it is desirable to apply the lubricant, and nothing but the lubricant, to the work to be lubricated, Contamination of either the source or the work is to be avoided. This is conveniently accomplished by applying the lubricant with a special applicator used only with that lubricant, and by maintaining the applicator in a clean condition between use.

The present invention relates to a container having integrally associated therewith an applicator which is conveniently stored with the materials with which it is used, but yet is stored out of contact with the materials, facilitating the maintenance of the applicator in an uncontaminated condition at all times. This end is achieved according to the present invention by incorporating the applicator in the lid of the container, and by providing a special well within the container for separate storage of the applicator, when the container is sealed, out of contact with the other contents of the container. Such a device is of particular advantage when employed with specialty greases and lubricants, because the applicator used to apply these lubricants can be maintained in an uncontaminated condition between uses. Also, the applicator can be associated exclusively with the same lubricant, and is so stored as to minimize contamination of either the lubricant or the work lubricated with harmful foreign matter.

A better understanding of the invention and of its many advantages can be had by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example. In the drawings, FIGURE l is a side elevation in section of a sealed container device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of said sealed container; and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded View of a portion of the lid assembly of said container.

Referring to FlGURE l of the drawings, the ligne shows cylindrical receptacle or container body 11 of a sturdy material such as metal or plastic, conveniently medium impact polystyrene. Centrally positionedwithin said container is second receptacle or well 12, also of a rigid material such as metal or plastic, conveniently polystyrene. Well 12 is advantageously affixed at its bottom portions 13 to container body 1.1 by any convenient means such as gluing, soldering, heat sealing, etc. The upper portions of container 11 have threaded portions 14 to receive at lid 15 having matching threaded ice portions 14. Lid 15 is also conveniently made of a sturdy shock-resistant substance such as metal or plastic.

Mounted within lid 15 are applicator means comprising brush 16 which may be of a natural liber or of a synthetic liber such as crimped nylon, slidable ferrule 17, conveniently of metal, and wire member 18. Brush 16 is aiiixed to one terminus of wire member 18, conveniently by pinching brush 16 in a twisted portion of member 18, as suggested by the ligure. Wire member 1S terminates in its upper portion in a cirulfar wire loop 19 peripherally mounted within lid 15. Lid 15 has been molded, pressed, swaged, or otherwise worked to ilare in its peripheral portions to provide a slot extending around the periphery of lid 15 for reception of circular wire loop 19. The diameter of lid 15 in the region of this peripheral slot is greater than its diameter at threaded portion 14, permitting a tight seal of receptacle 11 without interference from loop 19` in lid 153.

Within lid 15 is lid liner 20, which may be of any sturdy, llexible material resistant to the contents of confA tainer 11, and conveniently may be of vinyl-coated paper, for example. When lid 15 is screwed onto container 11, liner 20 is pressed tightly to the upper lip of container 1v1, and provides a tight seal thereto. Centrally failixed to the under side of said liner 20 is washer or gasket 21` which provides a seal to Well 12 when container 1.1 is sealed. Washer 21 is conveniently made of a compressable material resistant to the contents of the containen,

such :as closed pore synthetic rubber, and is aiiixed to lid liner 20 by gluing, for example. Washer 21 seals well 12 from the remaining interior portions of container body upper surface of lid 15 to an extent approximately equalv to the thickness of circular wire loop 19. These ernbossed portions 23k provide support for liner 20, which may be atlixed thereto by gluing or other suitable adhesives. Alternatively, liner 20 may simply be held within lid 15 Vby a compression lit in the neck thereof between threaded portion 14 of lid 15 and the peripheral slot formed in said lid to hold circular wire loop 19, or may rest in said peripheral slot itself.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the container in FIGURE l showing -lid 15, having embossed portions 232, and its relationship to circular wire loop 19 (dotted lines), and centrally positioned well 12 (dotted lines).

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the lid assembly or sealing means showing lid 15 having embossed portions 23, wire member 18 terminating in circular wire loop 19, lid liner 20, and sealing washer 21 (dotted lines) associated therewith.

The container embodiment just described will be seen to have a number of advantages. Thus, it provides for separate but integral storage of a material and an applicator therefor without the possibility of contamination of either. The applicator, if cleaned between uses, is stored in clean condition for the next use. The container-applicator combination reduces or eliminates the soiling of hands or clothing, and is especially useful Where materials such as greases or lubricants are to be employed.

By simple inversion of the at lid of the container, when it is removed from the container, the applicator can be conveniently set aside without contamination if it is desired not to return it immediately to the container. The llat lid provides a broad base support for the brush, which extends up into the air without possibility of con- 3 tamination Iby contact with yforeign matter on awork bench or the like.

The container may be made in a variety of sizes adapted to lill any equally wide variety ofneeds. It can be made of shock-resistant materials, and of materials resistant toacids, alkalies,V greases, and the like, depending on its contents and the conditions under which it will betused.

Also, inthe container combination, the applicator is made integral with the container lid assembly. The large looped base of the brush, securely :locked within the lid, permitsthe use of the applicator with substantial force and pressure without the development of a torque suicient to dislodge the brush from the' lid. Y

"Further, the slidable ferrule in `the applicator assembly facilitates cleaning ofthe entire brush when desired, and yet provides a sturdy mounting for the bristles of the brush at their base.

Although specific embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understoodthat they are illustrative, and are not to be construed as limiting on the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for greases, lubricants, and the like coinprising a first receptacle; a second receptacle centrally Ipositioned within said irst receptacle,whereby a volume for thecontents of said container is defined between said first and second receptacles; sealing means adapted to be sealably aixed to said iirst receptacle, said sealing means comprising a ilat lid' embossed in central portions to define a plurality of depressed portions and a raised groove therebetween; and applicator means aixed to said sealing means `and non-rotatably engaged in said raised groove and extending into said secondreceptacle when said sealing means are in sealing position, whereby said applicator means are separately stored insaid second receptacle out of contact with said contents of said container in said first receptacle.

2. A container for greases, lubricants; and the like comprising a first receptacle; a second receptacle centrally, positioned within and aixed to said iirst receptacle, whereby a volume for the contents ofsaid container is dened between said first and second receptacles; sealing means adapted to be sealably aixed to said 61st receptacle, 4said sealing means comprising a at 'lid ilared in peripheral portions and embossed in central portions thereof to define a plurality of depressed portions and a Vraised groove therebetween, a liner positioned in said lid and supported 'by 'said embossed central portions of said lid, and a washer centrally atlxed to said liner and adapted to seal said second receptacle; and applicator means comprising a wire member having a loop portion positioned Within said ared peripheral portions of said lid, a rst straight portion ycoplanar `with said loop portion and non-rotatably engaged in said raised groove, and a second straight portion extending centrally through said liner and washer, and applicator means attached to said second straight portion of said wire member.

3. In combination, a double walled container comprising a bottom, an outer wall, and an inner wall defining among them an annular cavity between said outer and inner wall for reception of the contents of said container and a central well within said inner wall; sealing means comprising a flat lid adapted to be sealably atixed to said container at its outer wall and a washer centrally aiixed to said lid and adapted to seal separately said central well, said lid comprising depressed portions delining a raised groove therebetween, and applicator means centrally aixed to said lid and non-rotatably engaged with said raised groove therein and extending from said washer; wherebysaid yapplicator means extend into said central well when said sealing means are in sealing position, said applicator means thus being separately stored in said central well out of contact with said contents of said annular cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,357 Gleich Dec. 27,1904 793,327 Swoyer et al June 27, 1905 847,370 Ritz Mar. 19, 1907 1,117,863 Larson Nov. 17, 1914 1,586,535 Podel June l, 1926 1,602,551 Ramsey Oct. 12, 1926 2,308,674 Cave Jan. 19, 1943 

